Why Casino Sites Now Compete on Missions and Rewards

Gamification is becoming increasingly common in online casinos. It’s changing the way loyalty programs work. Now they’re starting to look more and more like games in which you have missions to complete. We’ve written this article to explain how this new approach works, the way casinos are trying to encourage players to come back. Let’s find out together!

What Casino Gamification Looks Like

Instead of limiting themselves to simple welcome offers, I’ve noticed that online casinos have started to incorporate ideas from video games. You’ve probably received missions to complete or various challenges that earn you extra rewards. Maybe you’ve been challenged to try a new slot or place a certain number of bets.

Some of these mechanics have been around for a few year, such as casino loyalty programs, which are nothing new. However, we’ve noticed that this year, casinos have started combining these features and adapting them to the video game model. There are seasonal missions that resemble a Battle Pass from a video game. You can track your progress directly from a dedicated bar, and if you complete the challenges within a set timeframe, you’ll get closer to a reward available at the end.

There are also leaderboards that complement this system and show you where you stand compared to other players.

Why Online Casinos Want Players to Keep Coming Back

What we do know for sure is that in a market where you can switch from one online casino to another in just a few minutes, a system that encourages you to return to the same platform is a significant investment for the operator.

We’ve seen that casinos are adopting more and more ideas from video games, and even video game developers have been trying for years to get players to come back, not just log in once and then quit.

Mobile game studios are testing different methods, adding a progress bar or rewards for daily logins, to get you to open the app more and more often. And that’s exactly what online casinos are doing now.

Can Casino Gamification Go Too Far?

Two years ago the UK Gambling Commission introduced a series of rules that specifically target the mechanisms behind loyalty programs. As a result, auto-spins, fast-forward spins, and animations that celebrate the moment when you’re close to a win but actually lose have been banned. There are now also limits on wagering requirements and restrictions on bonuses that combine multiple types of games. However, keep in mind that these measures apply in the UK, not in Canada.

It’s interesting to note that there are also casinos that use the same mechanics for a constructive purpose. They reward players when they set a deposit limit for themselves. That the same mechanism can also be used to encourage responsible gaming behavior.

At the time we wrote this article, Canadian authorities had not made such changes. It remains to be seen whether changes will occur over the next two years. If the British rules prove effective, Canadian authorities will most likely follow suit.

What This Means for You as a Player

Missions and reward badges can make a gaming session even more fun. However, you shouldn’t forget that they’re designed to encourage you to interact with the platform as often as possible and deposit as much money as possible. So it’s worth being careful when you receive a message from the casino asking you to complete a certain mission. Don’t let yourself be tricked if you no longer want to make another deposit at the casino.

We suggest a simple test that can help you figure out if a mission is influencing your decisions. Ask yourself if you’d still make that deposit or play that game if the mission didn’t exist. If your answer is no, then it’s clear. We’re not necessarily saying there’s anything wrong with it, but it’s important that the decision is yours, not something you do on autopilot.

We recommend treating leaderboards and missions the same way you would any other limited-time offer.

The Bottom Line

Gamification is one of this year’s trends, and it’s changing the way casinos attract and retain players. And it’s true, it’s borrowed from video games and we’re seeing it become an increasingly important part of how casinos compete to keep their players.

There’s nothing wrong with that, you can enjoy these mechanic, as long as you’re aware of what’s behind these missions. Just as we always tell you that it’s important to know the odds of winning before playing at a casino, it’s also worth paying attention to how the casino might influence your choices.

If you feel that gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, you can find support through the Responsible Gambling Council and CAMH.

Where to Go From Here

If you want to learn more and understand how bonuses work in combination with these systems, we recommend checking out our guide to welcome bonuses at online casinos. That way, you’ll understand what they are and how bonus wagering requirements apply, and you’ll learn more about the rewards from the missions you want to complete. We’ll always provide you with access to the latest information.